William Wednesdy: William and a New Food

Gather round kid and parents if you like. I have another William the Mouse story to share with you. I hope you like. Feedback always welcome. Maybe you will even like it enough to tell your kids or not.


William the Mouse and A New Food
By
Mark Krawczyk

In the really old house,
on top of the very large hill,
just outside of town lives William.

William is a mouse and this is his tail…I mean tale.

William was scurrying about the kitchen floor one warm summer day when he heard the sound of bug wings. He looked up in time to see his friend Larry the Locust flying through the air and landing on the kitchen counter above William. William was always happy to see his friends, especially on such a nice day.
“Helloooo Larry.” William squeeked.
“Why Hello dear friend William.” said Larry in his own squeaky voice as he peeked over the edge of the counter. Larry then began climbing down the side of the old dusty counter towards Larry. William could see his friend was carrying something in his mouth that was large and green.
“Whatcha got there Larry?”

“Ifff a gree weef dear ffffriend”

“I am sorry what was that? “ William asked as Larry reached the floor. Larry spat out the leaf with a loud , “Thttttpppp”

“ I said it’s a green leaf dear friend, from a Maple tree no less, very tastey. Would you like a bite?” Larry answered smacking his bug mouth. William was not sure Larry’s idea of tasty and his idea of tasty were the same. William remembers when he bit a leaf once. He was not sure what plant it came from but it was very bitter and made him wrinkle his nose.
“Yuck Larry how can you eat such a nasty thing. I could never eat such a gross food.” William said without thinking.
Larry got a look of hurt on his face. William had hurt Larry’s feelings by saying something quite rude. If someone offers you food and it’s a food you don’t like, you should say “No thank you.” Or “Thank you but I do not want any at this time” or something else polite, that is the right thing to do. William realized he had done the wrong thing and felt bad. So William did the only thing you are supposed to do when you hurt someone on accident, you apologized.

“I am very sorry Larry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I just have tried a leaf before and didn’t like it. Thank you for offering.”
Larry’s frown disappeared.
“Apologies accepted dear friend. If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of leaf was it?”
“I am not sure, it was long and thin and very bitter.” William answered. Larry’s smiled wide.
“Well no wonder you don’t like leaves dear friend William. That was a grass leaf. They can be very bitter. If you wouldn’t mind just trying a very small bite of the maple leaf, it would make me very happy. If you do not like it, I will not offer you a leaf again.” Larry cut a very small piece off the large leaf and gave it to William.
It is true William never had tried a piece of Maple leaf. Perhaps not all leaves taste the same, William thought to himself. The Maple leaf looked almost like the leaf he had tried before but not exactly like it.
“Ok Larry. I will try something new to eat. I may like it.” William said and after sniffing the piece of leaf with his little pink nose, he put the piece in his mouth.
To William’s surprise the leaf tasted good, it was not bitter like the other leaf at all. William smiled and Larry smiled back.

“See I told you dear friend William. It is good is it not?”

“Yes quite good. Thank you Larry, may I have another piece.” William answered as he licked his lips. Larry slid the leaf over to William and the two friends shared a tasty leaf in the summer sun. William was glad he took a chance to try a new food. It made him think of what other new foods were out there that he had not tried yet that he might like.
I guess you will never know until you try them, William thought as he swallowed his last bite of delicious maple leaf.